Happy Hooker comes to Camelot

New addition to the armory is the happy hooker, no its not what you think, it makes catching mooring balls easier, because our deck is high off the water. The device was put to the test on the mooring balls at Sausalito, with Guinevere ready for the the joust, the ball was quickly penetrated and line attached in one swift movement Camelot was secure, the feast was quickly prepared to celebrate the new addition.



We were joined by Romy for a brief sail and long drift around the bay.

More new canvas for Camelot's wardrobe

Out exploring the bay with our new Genoa sail testing performance and learning the abilities of Camelot for combating the old foes the wind and waves, with Merlin ( Stan ) on board working his magic.



New dodger, Bimini and cushions to keep King Arthur and Guinevere in palatial comfort whilst protecting from the nasty elements.

Through the mists of time, our adviser whispers the secrets of the Radio.

We gathered around the Round table to hear the utterings of the great radio Ham. He swept onboard, with his Parrot Nisa, and passed down the secrets of long distance radio installation. We leaned closer to catch every word, (taking are not to get bittten by the Parrot).
Seriously, its now fully clear to us why we came to the U.S. in the first place....... to meet people like the Ham radio guy, he's actually called Neil too, and is a Vietnam Veteran, who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, and Nisa has been provided and trained by the government to bite his ear if he gets too hyper (that's how the stress manifests itself)

More power for Camelot armory

What's in the box all the way from Thailand?........Its our new 130% headsail which was quickly attached, hauled up and will be tested on Friday.

Camelot attacked from the inside

Oh no what a mess!!!, We are trying to drop an internal Halyard for the the drifter, Neil was hauled to the top of the mast and a weighted line was dropped down inside the mast. 100 ft of line was fed in but no sign of it at the bottom, so Neil was lowered only to get stuck two thirds up the mast, couldn't go up or down!!! The rescue was performed with the other halyard and after several journeys up and down, head scratching, thoughts of having to drop the mast, we managed to pull Camelot's innards out , after delicate surgery Camelot's internals were free again.

Thanksgiving dinner on the bay

A galley slave flew in from holland to do the dishes and prepare the traditional fare of apple pie and cream the meal was cooking as we toured a near deserted calm bay then anchoring off Belvadere basking in the warm sun while we enjoyed our meal.

Returning to Emeryville we found a boat grounded in the channel as we offered to pull him free we also found ourselves stuck!!! They declined our offer as we whipped our 85 horses that snorted and strained and broke us free.

New Knights and new canvas

New knights Stacy and Raymond joined us for a tour of the bay, we circumnavigated Angel island looking for a good invasion point, alas we found them already occupied, we made several attacks but there was to be no openings. Wind and current joined with the foe and we had to retreat for a feast afloat



Hooray!!! The long awaited canvas guy is here to put up protection from the nasty elements sun, wind and rain.

Moving in

Busy month finishing bunks and moving aboard,






We got to try the new sails as we headed under the gate for the open sea, alas not enough time, to sail away this time,








One of silent crew (the big pulley on boom) mutinied on us, and broke a fitting smashing one of our windows!!!

Moving along

Camelot is taking shape ready for moving in on the 1st, she has been throughly cleaned painted and now has running water and plenty of comfy berths.

Larry was right we needed to spend more time working on the boat than on our blog!!!! Hopefully after next weekend we can resume attacking the bay and may be venture out through the gate to test out our workmanship before we install some fancy flooring and trim!!!!!

New wardrobe for Camelot

Everything is arriving at once, the water tanks are back and sitting in the bilge, while the painting and varnishing of the cockpit is finished. We were surprised to find these three blue packages sitting by our front door, an early arrival of our sails from Hong Kong!

Nice, new, white "wardrobe" stacked neatly on the boom, now to decide on an overcoat (new sailcover) colour style etc, decisions, decisions!!!
The staysail also needs a new coat due to increase in size!!,

Neil was sent aloft hoisted by the muscular Jackie to release the forestay for the fitting of its outer coating of a roller furling,
All was going well and after several remeasures assembly began, until as usual, a problem!!

One of the tracks is damaged. Feeling a bit disillusioned, riggingonly.com was contacted and brilliant service within 15 min they had spoken to Harken and another piece of track is on its way!!!! So hopefully the furler will be up on Thursay and we can get back to attacking the anchorages around the bay.

Modern day Knights gone soft

Todays Knights need soft, comfortable beds. After careful measuring of the space, and allowing for the flare of the hull, Jackie is ready to attack our new mattress with our electric caving knife.

To China camp and back

New knights on board a recce of China camp was made with refreshments and adult beverages while we surveyed the place for possible future landings and invasion!! We were spotted and checked out by their Chinese Junk and we headed back, the wind and sea's built to put up a good fight and dowsed some of new knights with the salty stuff, but alas we arrived safe and sound for a feast and review the days scouting.

Water tanks.....can we do it.....Yes we can!

After weeks of head scratching and hair pulling Neil sent off his tank design to the tank man in L.A., who promptly made the tanks.
Overjoyed with the prompt service Neil inspected the tanks and found that the baffles (small walls inside tanks to stop 160 gallons of water sloshing about) that were supposed to be inside were still sitting on a shelf in the tank making factory.
So we decided to try them for size before they were returned.
Sunday was spent, in the beating sun, heaving, pushing, pulling, dropping, and finger squashing them into and OUT (very hard work) of the bilges. ( See photos)
So they fit, and we are happy about that, can't wait to have to do it all again when they return.

Also new topside paint and non skid, we're the shiniest boat on the dock!

Time to be measured for a new "suit of armour".

Measuring up for a new set of sails didn't take too long.
Peter our sailmaker set about the task with vigour.
Tape measure hauled up the mast to measure the height, sightings from the dock to check everything, and away we go, off to Lee sails in Hong Kong with our order. In 4 weeks time they should arrive, and be ready for a test sail.

July 4th.....more Knights meet at Camelot

Boiling hot, and ready for a cooling sail, we set sail for Paradise bay for a July 4th picnic and swim.
Swim I hear you cry in Northern California.........yes Tessa and Jackie take the plunge.
Breaching the high walls to return to Camelot was no picnic, wet damsels had to be winched back on board.
Arthur needs to buy a swim step!

The amassing of the knights begins on Camelot

Iain and Christine tentatively pull up their chairs around the round table, and join us on our maiden voyage.
Battling the wind, and waves we dodge the barges and negotiate under the bridge.
Out of the high winds we dance around the south bay, playing and enjoying the way she sails.
Safely into harbour, time for a light refreshment, and cheers to Camelot.

Rebuilding Camelot

Finally getting to do some work. Most of the time is taken up shopping for stuff, but managed to get the salon back in so we now have a nice seating area, sparkling white bilges, and new water tanks priced and ready to order.

"Arthur" aka Neil wields his mighty power drill Excaliber to vanquish all foes that ail the yacht Camelot

It's three weeks since we took control of Camelot, Neil has been wielding his mighty power drill Excaliber, to restore order.
The bilges have been painted, measured for new tanks, cabin floor returned to its rightful place, and decks scrubbed ready for painting.......Oh yes and "Guinevere" aka Jackie has been banishing dirt and concocting the foul brew the Brits call a cuppa tea!